Civil service sees jobs slashed and below inflation pay rises

THE GOVERNMENT has made good on its plans to streamline Whitehall, official data out yesterday showed.

Civil service employment was cut 34,621 between 2011 and 2012, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed, bringing the total down seven per cent from 508,433 to 463,812.

“We are reforming the Civil Service so it will be smaller, flatter, faster, more unified, more digital, more accountable for delivery, more capable, better managed, and – ultimately – more fun to work for,” claimed a Cabinet Office spokesperson.

“The Civil Service is at its smallest since the Second World War, with most civil servants doing operational roles, delivering services direct to the public,” the spokesperson added.

And median pay in the government department offices stayed broadly flat, in line with other government promises, rising just £140 – or 0.6 per cent – to hit £23,900 by March 2012.

“A major reduction in the number of civil servants was very much needed,” said Ruth Porter at the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank.

“With public spending at damagingly high levels, the government has done well to bring about a reduction of this scale,” Porter added.